Luminous attachment for locks



D 1951 B. HEINZ LUMINOUS ATTACHMENT FOR LOCKS Filed July 17, 1950 INVENTOK cl He 1' n, z

ATTORNEYS Berzzar 0 X 7 n n 5 Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED:

STATES PATENT. OFFICE 'LUMINQUS ATTACHMENT FOR LOCKS Bernard Heinz, Scranton, Pa.

Application July 17, 1950, Serial No. 174,305 4 Claims. (01. 250 76) This invention relates to a luminous attachment for locks and, more particularly, to a supplemental escutcheon plate adapted to be applied to a conventional lock of that type including a face plate to lend the same visibility in the dark.

The primary object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved accessory for escutcheon plates of luminous character whereby the insertion of a key into the keyhole in darkness is facilitated.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily applied to that type of lock embodyin a face plate.

sun another object of the invention is the provision of an accessory of this character which will be difficult to remove except from the interior of the look.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and 5;:

durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple to manufacture. assemble, and install.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of accessory embodying this invention shown as attached to alock.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at ID a fragment of a door or the like provided with an aperture or bore ll in which is fitted a lock cylinder I2 provided with the conventional barrel l3 and keyhole M. The lock includes an escutcheon plate [5 and a bezel Hi to be more fully described hereinafter.

The lock is adapted to be secured within the bore H by means of a locking plate [6 and bolts l1 and nuts l8.

Referring back to bezel l6 which is substantially of conventional design, it will be seen that the same consists of a flange [9 adapted to over-' lie the face plate 2! of the lock and is provided with an arcuate channel or groove 2 l. The bezel includes an inwardly extending flange 22 which fits within a recess 23 formed in the face plate 29 and the door I0, the flange being tapered inwardly as at 24 and terminating in a right angularlydisposed flange 25 which is adapted toflt beneath the rim of aclamping ring 26 to be more fully described hereinafter. 1

The clamping rin 26' comprises a split segmental member which is provided with a flange 21 which extends interiorly of the chamfered or beveled portion 24 of the bezel and is provided with a shoulder 28 adapted to fit against the horizontal portion of the bezel 19. An interiorly positioned shoulder 28 is adapted to seat against the underside of the escutcheon plate l5 of the conventional lock, while a laterally extending flange 29 extends beyond the bezel l5 and is provided adjacent its extremity with a chamfered groove 30.

1 The groove 30 is adapted to engage with a corresponding groove peripherally formed about the supplemental escutcheon plate of luminous plastic 32, the material comprising Lucite or the like which is adapted to be luminous in the darkness, and, consequently, to provide illumination about the keyhole.

The plate 32 is provided with an aperture 33 which surrounds the barrel l3 and is beveled as at 34 to guide the insertion of a key into the keyhole M.

In this embodiment of the invention it will be readily understood that by loosening of the nuts l8 the split clamping ring 26 may be readily inserted in the tapered groove 24 and clamped within and about the peripheral groove 3! of plastic escutcheon plate 32.

Tightening of the nuts 18 will then result in drawing the flange 21 into the tapered groove 24 in such manner as to eifect a wedging and clamping action thereon which will tightly engage the clamping ring 26 about the edges of escutcheon plate 32 to preclude the removal of the same unless the nuts IS on the inner side of the door are loosened.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved supplemental escutcheon plate which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may 3 plate, and a bezel having a channel therein, comprised of a superposed luminous supplemental escutcheon having a peripheral groove therein, a split clamping ring having a groove coacting with said first mentioned groove, and a clamping flange engaging in said channel.

said first mentioned groove, and a clamping flange,

engaging in said channel, said channel being tapered downwardly to effect a clamping action on said ring.

3. An accessory for locks of that type including a. cylinder, a barrel, 9, keyhole, an escutcheon plate, and a bezel having a channel therein, comprised of a superposed luminous supplemental escutcheon having a peripheral groove therein, a split clamping ring ha'ving groove coasting-with said first mentioned groove, and a clamping flange engagin in said channeLsaid bezel including a flange and said clamping ring including a shoulder seating in said flange.

iii)

4. An accessory for locks of that type including a cylinder, a barrel, a keyhole, an escutcheon plate, and a bezel having a channel therein, comprisedof a superposed luminous supplemental escutcheon having a peripheral groove therein, a split clamping ring having a groove coacting with ,said first mentioned groove, and a clamping flange engaging in said channel, said supplemental escutcheon including a beveled aperture for guiding a key into said keyhole.

BERNARD HEINZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

